Chapter 37

She clung to him tightly as they gained altitude, racing off into the sky on a seemingly directionless path. They broke through a bank of clouds, the mist swirling past them and clinging to them as they moved above the white masses. Bulma's breath was taken away as she saw their shadow against the surface of the clouds, Vegeta's aura visible in their silhouettes like heat was visible above pavement in the summer, just a colorless shimmering. Bulma kicked her legs slightly just to see the shadow move, unable to believe she was really so high. She had flown a couple times with both Radditz and Yamcha, but they had never moved so quickly or so high. She estimated them at well above twenty thousand feet, and yet his aura was protecting her so completely that she felt nothing other than a faint wind stirring her hair. You're very strong, aren't you? she asked quietly, keeping her arms tightly wrapped around his neck.

His black eyes glanced over at her and he merely smiled, suddenly launching into a series of loops and rolls, rocketing in between clouds. His strong hands found her waist and peeled her away from him so she lost her hold on his neck, then quickly spun her over so that she was facedown. Spread your arms, he said gruffly, and she did as he asked, her stomach suddenly clenching. He gained even more altitude and speed and suddenly let her go, veering away from her as her momentum carried her forward at an unbelievable speed. Her breath was knocked away from her with the velocity, but the freedom of movement was undeniable. She was flying unaided. Then the cold of the altitude hit her, and gravity took its sickening hold. Panic was just about to grip her and she looked down to meet her fate head on when she saw him flying underneath her, on his back so he could watch her. He floated back up underneath her when she started to fall, taking her back into his arms so gently it was if she had just been magically drawn there. She took a gigantic gasp when his aura was back in place, coughing a little. He laughed softly, the sound only half-belittling.

She grinned in delight, looking down past his shoulders at the ground so very far away that it seemed unreal. She flew often enough in aircars and planes to be familiar with the height, but such modes of transportation were nothing like this, flying with him with nothing to support them but his own power. Where are we going? she asked, laying her head on his chest.

He grabbed her around the waist again and rolled so that she was on the bottom. It doesn't matter, he murmured. This is your mudball. Where should we go?

Let's go to a beach, she said suddenly. Where do you think we are now?

Vegeta glanced up at the sky, quickly getting his bearings. We should be just a few degrees north of the equator, he replied.

Great! Tropical beaches are the best, she said. Put us down anywhere there's sand and water.

Vegeta nodded and plunged immediately, smirking at Bulma's gasp of momentary terror as they plummeted towards the blue-green expanse of water. They leveled off and found themselves above high ocean cliffs, the water crashing against the rock and sending huge plumes of spray towards the sky. Bulma squealed in delight and pointed at some rocks further out in the water. she shouted, clapping. Look, Vegeta, seals!

I see them, he replied gruffly, deliberately winding in and around the crashing spray but careful to not get wet. He angled them a little more north until he spotted an untouched stretch of beach, made private by the tall cliffs that formed the perimeter of the sand. He got his feet under him and descended slowly, landing smoothly but then separating himself from her roughly. She staggered a few paces away from him and looked at him with a puzzled expression until she finally turned away to stare out at the water.

There's not another soul, she whispered, blue eyes filled with the light of the water and sun.

Vegeta scowled and put his hands in the pockets of his swim trunks, also gazing out across the endless expanse of ocean. he said quietly.

She put her hands on her cutoffs and undid the fly, sliding out of them with a slithery sound and tossing them on the sand. Stretching in her bikini she flipped off her sandals and waded a few feet into the water, her face a little scrunched in analyzation. The water's perfect, she called to him.

He grunted and stood there with his arms crossed over his bare, corded chest. Of course it is, he growled. I only pick the best spots.

She glanced at him with a raised eyebrow, then laughed, closing her eyes and showing her teeth. That is one thing I can't argue, she said gaily, taking a few more steps into the water. Without warning she jumped into the air and slid into the water without hardly a splash, her lithe body cutting through the water like a knife. He watched as she resurfaced several meters later, bursting from the water and shaking her wet hair to and fro. You should come in, it's wonderful! she cried out to him, beckoning to him as she bobbed in the water. He scowled more deeply and watched her shrug before continuing out to sea with powerful strokes. She swum farther and farther away, until the glinting of the sun on the water made her head barely visible. Suddenly his senses were bombarded with the feeling of slicing through the water, turning around and seeing himself on the beach, and then the feeling was gone. He took a step to steady himself and put a hand to his head, wondering what was going on when the image of her blue eyes flashed across his brain. Standing upright again he realized that this would be an optimal time to kill her. All he had to do was reach out when she came ashore and take that thin, white neck between his hands and crush it. She had outlived her usefulness, so why was she still around?

she called, and he realized that she had drawn closer again. Why don't you come in?

He tried to ignore her, but her pleas were so frequent and insistent that he finally kicked off his shoes and waded into the water until his ankles were covered. he snapped. Are you happy?

She swam all the way into the shallows and stood, the water clinging to her soft body as she emerged. Walking until she was a few paces away from him she stopped and stood, a hand on her hip as she examined him. she said, her brow marred with the slightest of scowls.

he growled.

Are you having fun? she asked, tilting her head to the side.

I never have fun unless I'm destroying things, he said coldly, refusing to meet her eyes and staring out to sea instead. The sun was just beginning to set, staining the sky a million endless shades of color and turning the broken surface of the ocean into a kaleidoscope.

Oh, blah, she said, making a hand gesture. She darted forward and stomped in the water, sending up spray and laughing as he twisted to try and avoid the water. He dashed to the side and she reached down, scooping up water and splashing him. He tried to dodge again, but suddenly she was gone. Twisting around, he tried to see where she had gone, and then swiftly she popped up out of the water and tackled him, laughing all the while. Her arms slid over his shoulders and time seemed to slow down for him. He had never been touched by a female before. He hadn't noticed the feeling of her skin when she latched onto him at takeoff, but this was something entirely different, her face alight with laughter and crystal blue eyes sparkling as she threw herself on him. Her skin glided over the flesh of his shoulders as smoothly as cool silk, her skin wet, slippery, and slightly chilled from the water, her fingers curling gently at the back of his neck. He threw his hands out to the sides to avoid touching her and her entire body was pressed up against his, all her bare flesh sliding over him, her breasts pushing against his chest, the nipples evident in their pressure despite the fabric, and he didn't know what to do. So he fell over, displacing the water under his descending body in a great splash as his wide eyes stayed locked on her. She squealed and cringed, closing her eyes to avoid getting saltwater in them. Still shuddering, she left him under the water and stood, coughing, and staggered up onto the beach.

She hadn't expected him to just fall over like that, she realized as she sat on the sand, watching Vegeta extract himself from the water, the sun setting behind him over the water. The look of shock on his face had been priceless as she felt her arms slide over his muscular shoulders, but instead of fighting back like she had hoped he would he just toppled over like a rag doll. She squinted her eyes at him as he trudged up on the beach and shook himself off with disgust, chewing on her lip as the water dripped over all his muscles. Drawing her knees up to her chest and curling her arms around them she hid her face in her forearms, sighing as she enclosed herself in that little personal space. After a moment she looked up again, but he was staring off over the water with an unreadable expression on his stern face. What was he thinking? Was he thinking about death? How beautiful the sunset was? Not knowing, she curled her body tighter and joined him at staring off into the sunset.

Night had fallen and the stars were bright and clear in the clean sky, the water calm and the rhythm of the waves soothing her. Get up, a gruff voice said, and she rubbed her eyes, propping herself up with one arm as she got her bearings.

Wow, it's late, she murmured, and realized she must have fallen asleep.

We need to get back, he said sternly.

She stood and rubbed her eyes again, walking over to him and putting her arms out. He just looked at her strangely. Come on, we don't have all night, she grumbled. Take me home.

He took a few hesitant steps towards her and touched her lightly, barely making any contact with her bare skin. They both began to rise into the air without him even really touching her, and she realized that he must be using that telekinetic power she had seen him utilize on occasion. Something in her stomach fell as it occurred to her that he was willing to spend a lot of extra energy just to spare himself having to touch her. The thought hurt her and she wasn't sure why. Did you have a nice time at the beach? she asked cautiously.

He didn't look down at her, just sped on through the night sky. Did you?

You didn't answer my question, she said with a scowl.

You tried to drown me and were otherwise annoying, he grumbled. Do you think I enjoyed the beach?

Her eyebrows knotted a little and she sighed, looking down at her hands sadly. Well, I had a great time. You're not unpleasant company when you're not enraged, she said slowly trying to gage his reaction.

Who's to say I wasn't enraged?

You weren't. I could tell.

How could you tell? You're just a human, you shouldn't be able to... he protested, then something horrible occurred to him.

Shouldn't be able to what? she asked, suddenly curious.

Vegeta paled. he said sharply. Forget I said anything, he demanded, and they flew the rest of the way home in silence.


He fought her mind the entire way home, trying to ignore the stray thoughts he was picking up from her. Warm, he heard her think, and felt her soft cheek nestle against his shoulder as she cuddled up against him in her drowsiness. A shiver wracked her smooth body, and he realized she had left her shorts on the beach. Now she was cold and his aura wasn't doing anything to help her out. He began to curl around her instinctively, trying to warm her body with his, but he beat back her thoughts and straightened his body out, clenching his teeth angrily until he landed in the Capsule Corp. yard. He tried to set her down, but she only murmured something and leaned against him, still asleep. Sighing, he picked her back up and slowly entered his access code, stepping inside as soon as the door slid open. He walked down the hallway, but when he got upstairs he found a figure blocking his way.

What have you done to her? the voice demanded angrily.

Vegeta scowled more intensely at the scarred man. Nothing. Get out of my way.

Yamcha shouted. Are you okay?

Bulma blinked awake, the first thing she saw being Vegeta's black eyes looking down at her passionlessly. He put her down as she stared at him, immediately remembering what had happened. What? Oh, Yamcha, I'm fine, she replied, a little bewildered.

What in the hell were you thinking, going off like that? he growled, reaching forward and grabbing her upper arm.

Bulma tried to wrench it away, but he wouldn't let her go. I can do whatever I want, she snarled in return. Let me go!

He pulled her to him, tightening his grip. That man is capable of hurting anyone, Yamcha hissed. Have you lost your mind?

Bulma gasped a little as the pressure on her arm started to hurt. Stop it, Yamcha! she cried, trying to free herself, and then suddenly he was off of her, leaving her standing and rubbing her arm. Vegeta had Yamcha pressed up against the wall, his fingers around the taller man's throat and pulling him down to the same height.

Did she ask you to lay a hand on her? Vegeta said coldly, voice calm.

Yamcha gurgled and clutched at Vegeta's wrist, trying unsuccessfully to pull it off of him. he gasped.

Did she not tell you to unhand her? Vegeta said again, eyes narrowing.

Yamcha rasped.

Vegeta's lip curled in a snarl and he increased the pressure, almost able to touch his thumb and forefinger on the other side of Yamcha's trachea. That's what I thought, he said quietly, and suddenly his aura flared to brilliant light around him.

Yamcha shouted as he was burned by the other man's power, squeezing his eyes shut tight and groaning through his clenched teeth. Vegeta wound up his fist and punched, missing Yamcha's cheek by a fraction of an inch, instead burying his arm up to the elbow in the wall. Suddenly he released the taller man and his own aura, watching with satisfaction as he slumped to the floor, coughing. He looked at Yamcha in disgust before turning to Bulma, who was standing there with wide eyes. Yamcha said. Is this how things are going to be? With Vegeta as your thug?

Yamcha, get out of here. I don't want to see you until you've grown up, Bulma said, voice strained.

Tears welled up in Yamcha's eyes. But I was only trying to protect you, he protested, voice still scratchy. I love you, and I just wanted you to be safe.

She told you to leave, Vegeta said coldly. I suggest you do as she says.

Yamcha stood shakily and extended a hand to Bulma, but Vegeta flashed his aura into being once again. Yamcha begged softly.

Vegeta threatened, the unholy light of battle beginning to gleam in his eyes.

Yamcha turned, face wet with tears, and went down the hall. Vegeta and Bulma stood there until they heard the outside door shut and then

Bulma let out a huge sigh. she whispered. That got a little crazy.

Vegeta snorted at her and pursed his mouth. You stupid woman, he said. Figure out what you want.

Bulma asked, surprised. What do you mean?

Stupidity is dangerous. Look where it almost landed you tonight.

I'm not stupid! It's not my fault-

This is not a matter open for discussion, he snapped. See that it doesn't happen again. Oh, and next time clean up your own damn messes, he snarled, and stalked off down the hall.

Bulma stood in the hall, rubbing her arms and legs, shivering. She had to admit that she had been both impressed by his defense of her and hurt by his cold departing words, but he was right about one thing: she had things that needed to be attended to. Like getting warm, she realized, and went down the hall to her room.


She absentmindedly scratched at the paper with her pencil, shifting in her chair at the desk in her lab every so often. She couldn't really concentrate on the translation. Her mind was stuck in yesterday, dwelling on the expanse of Vegeta's sun-darkened skin, on the way he had been warm and solid pressed against her in the sky, the way his eyes had flashed when Yamcha grabbed her in the hallway, how his eyes had turned so cold when he left her but the shadows fought one another there nonetheless. What are you doing? a voice asked, startling her out of her pondering.

She turned around quickly, finding her company at the door. Oh, translating, she mumbled, turning back to her desk.

May I come in?

she replied, beginning to scribble madly on the paper.

He crouched down next to her, one hand on the back of her chair and the other on her desk and looked up into her face, brows drawn together and mouth pressed in a line. he said. I'm sorry about yesterday. I just thought Vegeta was shirking his duty, and I have to admit that I'm getting increasingly anxious to return to space. That doesn't excuse my behavior, but I'm hoping that you will pardon me anyway.

She put down the pencil and turned to him, his cold, glittering golden eyes sincere even if they weren't warm. Oh, all right, Zarbon, she muttered. No hard feelings.

he said, and stood, leaning against her desk and crossing his arms over his chest. So how's it coming?

Bulma thought about lying to him so he would leave, but she felt he was unpredictable and didn't want to anger him again as she had no idea what he was capable of. she admitted. To fix the scouter so it read my language was easy- I just found the language chip and anywhere else it was programmed and just swapped it with my own or erased it, but I can't do that to get it to read yours because I don't know your language.

This is all that's keeping us from getting out of here? he asked, looking down at the paper. Once you have this done you can begin manufacturing?

She nodded with a sigh. she said in a small voice.

He gently took the paper from her and turned it so that he could see it better, squinting at her work. Hmmm, I see, he said. So, if you managed to get some words out of Vegeta, why is it taking so long?

Because I don't know how to use the words, she growled, scowling and clutching the pencil more tightly.

He looked over at her and blinked. Why don't you use a translation program or something? Don't you do that to get through the different languages on this planet?

She sighed. Sometimes non-scientists didn't understand anything. Because I don't know all your words or how they're used, and I can't very well make a program without those, can I?

Well, where's Vegeta? I thought he'd be here. You two seem to be inseparable, he said, and she couldn't help but notice a bitter tone in his voice.

I don't know. I thought he was training with you, she admitted, noticing a bitter tone in her voice as well.

Well, obviously that is not the case. Hmmm, and Radditz is inaccessible as well. Hn....well, I guess, Bulma, that I shall have to be the one to help you, he proclaimed. We need to get out of here, and I probably know the language best anyway. It's certainly not the only one I speak, so hopefully I'll be of the most help anyhow.

Uh, that'd be great, she said, feeling apprehensive as he pulled up a chair.

Shall we get started? he asked politely, taking a sheet of paper and a pencil. She nodded and he wrote something on the paper. This is how you write he explained, and then passed the paper to her. Now you write your way underneath it.

She did, and passed the paper back to him. He wrote something else, passed it to her, and so on and so forth late into the afternoon.

The chirping of the crickets outside their window was so loud that it actually woke her, making her toss and turn in their bed for quite some time before she thought to reach out to him. His warm, solid presence always made her feel safe and serene, which was a feeling she found herself needing more and more of late. Her hand meandered over to his side of the bed, expecting to come into contact with his wall of muscle, but her fingertips only stroked the air and the empty sheets. Sitting up, she clutched the sheet to her chest, blinking in the darkness. He wasn't in the bed and his spot was cool, as if he hadn't lain beside her for quite some time. A horrible feeling came over her, a realization of emptiness that his absence left her with, and she realized that his chosen path of fighting could leave her feeling like that permanently. Suddenly there was very real potential for her that she would have to feel that cold spot in her bed night after night, if he continued down his path. The thought of nights alone in their big marriage bed gripped her heart with icy fingers and twisted it cruelly. The fear was so real and so large that she darted from her bed and threw on her robe. Seeing the door ajar, she rushed through the house, checking every one of the rooms, looking in on Gohan twice and stopping the second time to look at her son, watching his little chest rise and fall in slumber, then dashed out of the house.

she whispered hoarsely into the night, clutching her robe around her in spite of the muggy summer night air. All that reached her ears was the sound of the crickets and, a little ways off, the running of the little brook. she cried, voice breaking at the end of the last syllable.

Here, a voice said gently in her head, and she followed it blindly, stumbling over lumps in the ground and clumps of grass until she saw him, seated beneath a tree and gazing at the scenery.

she breathed with relief, going to stand beside him, her dark eyes blinking back tears of release. She looked down at him, at his naked, perfectly toned body, his skin looking like velvet in the soft light of the stars. He looked up at her from under his bangs and smiled at her, his grin spreading over his whole face and so obviously heartfelt that her breath caught in her throat. What are you doing out here? she demanded, gathering her robe about her more tightly and shoving her overwhelming feelings deep into the pit of her stomach.

I'm looking at the world, he replied simply. Isn't it beautiful?

She glanced out at the scenery. Yes, Goku, it's very nice, she said, voice full of condescension, But it's late and we should go inside.

he asked, looking up at her through his thick bangs. It's perfect out, so warm and peaceful...

But what if Gohan wakes up and gets scared without his parents? she protested.

He shook his head and smiled up at her again. He can feel where we are, ChiChi, the same way that I can feel where he is. He's a special boy, you know.

I know, she said crossly. But he's still a boy.

Come, sit down, he said, wrapping a hand around her ankle and gently caressing the thin bones there. It's too lovely to think about things like that right now.

Goku, I don't know, it's really late...

You couldn't sleep anyway, right? he said, raising an eyebrow, putting on the act of idiot that she could never quite convince herself was accurate.

Well, no, she admitted. The crickets were too loud and the night is too warm to really sleep well.

he said, reaching up and taking her hand, stroking the soft skin on the back of it with the side of his thumb. Now come on.

She sighed and lowered herself gingerly on the grass beside him, folding her leg modestly. Now why are you really out here? What's bothering you? she urged, placing a hand on his bare thigh.

It was his turn to sigh and he propped his chin up in his hand. Radditz is training really hard, and I don't know why he wants to be so strong all of a sudden. It worries me.

ChiChi stared at him, confused. I thought you were out playing with Gohan all this time, she said, voice beginning to take on the hard edge of anger.

He smiled dopily and waved his hands in the air in front of him. No, no, we were playing, honest, he protested. It's just that Piccolo was kinda there, sorta taking care of Gohan while Radditz and I sparred. That's it, no big deal, right? he asked timidly, eyes getting huge when he was met with her stony silence. Right, ChiChi?

Your Gohan's father, not his playmate, she said gruffly.

But I'm his playmate too, Goku countered. But this is sad. We shouldn't be sad on a pretty night like this.

There'll be others, Goku. You should feel whatever you want to, she replied with a sigh. Oh well, she figured she was lucky to have ended up with someone who loved their son so much; it could have been far, far, worse.

He leaned in closer to her. You know, I'm your playmate also, he whispered into her ear.

She scowled and leaned away as his large hands gently found the collar of her robe and tried to coax it off her. she protested. We're outside!

He looked at her funny, raising his lower eyelids and staring at her as if she had lost a piece of her mind. Uh, ChiChi, I know, he said.

Someone could see!

He laughed, sliding his hand up her leg until it rested on her hip. No one's around for miles and this is the woods, after all, he said with a chuckle. We weren't meant to wear clothes anyway. This is the natural way to be, and we should do it while it's warm still.

She tugged at the robe for a few minutes more, not willing to give up her resistance quite so easily, before he finally slid the garment off her shoulders. Well, okay, just this once, she muttered.

Thank you, Goku said sweetly, trailing a finger along her collarbone. You know, you're the only thing out here prettier than that night sky, he said in a low voice.

Hush, you, she admonished, but blushed anyway.

No, really, ChiChi, I think you're the most beautiful thing I'll ever see in my life, he continued, running the backs of his fingers up and down her silky arm.

Goku, honestly, she sighed, shuddering against her will.

You're my bonded lifemate, he whispered, his teeth suddenly closed around her earlobe. I'll love you forever, dead or alive.

she murmured as he leaned toward her, moving a hand around to her back and supporting her between the shoulder blades as he began to run his tongue down her neck.

he whispered, shifting his other hand to her stomach and running his fingers in and around her navel.

No, really, you've been quite amorous of late, she said softly.

He chuckled, the sound muffled as he pressed his lips to her skin. I've got to get it in while there's still time, he murmured, and lowered her to the ground.

She sighed as he moved himself on top of her, and then as he began to make his ministrations in earnest she completely forgot to ask him just what he meant by that.